e c o j o t

Ahhh, it was like finding a fat-free, low-carb, high-fiber cookie that tasted like heaven. That's the feeling I got when I discovered ecojot.


ecojot is a Canadian-based company that produces a super earth-friendly line of stationery. So, that means they use 100% recycled paper made from 100% post-consumer waste, acid-free and processed chlorine-free paper, and biodegradable vegetable based ink. What's better than "guilt-free" stationery that oozes cuteness?



I snagged a spiral-bound notebook for myself at The Wedding Cafe last month, but according to the company's stockist list, you can find them at Barnes & Noble as well.


Who knew you could help the environment just by putting pen to paper?

Comic relief

A friend sent this to me awhile back and I remember that it brought an instant smile to my face. :)

Showcase tonight!

Head to The Wedding Cafe at Ward Warehouse tonight for the Invitations + Registry Showcase. It's my first time doing a showcase in the new digs (upstairs conference room, directly above the cafe), and I'm excited to chat with a crowd of fresh new faces!

Weddings by Grace and Mona will also be on hand for the meet/greet...throw your impossible-to-figure-out dilemma at them and try to "stump the coordinator." It's amazing how much they know about the ins and outs of wedding planning!

The fun starts at 6:30pm -- hope to see you there!

Invitations plus...

At least once a week I'm asked this question: Do you make other things besides invitations?

My answer is always a resounding: YES!

I tell clients that my current "repertoire" includes pretty much anything and everything that's printed or made out of paper. Recently, I also added customized coasters and cocktail napkins to my bag of tricks (more on that in a future post). I've even done hotel signage, favor boxes, and "Do not disturb" door hangers.

Shown above is a favor tag accented with pretty Swarovski crystals (photo by Kris Labang of On3 Photography). Ahh, only a pro photographer could make a paper tag look so artsy. I love it!

The EYES have it

Want wide, doe-like eyes to bring out the anime character living deep within you? My hubby emailed me this story, which led me to this story, which then led me to this company's web site. I gotta say...I'm a bit speechless.

If big eyes aren't your thing, GEO offers many other lenses that might tickle your fancy.

Wow...

Daily inspiration

For a daily dose of wedding inspiration, check out The Bride's Cafe! The blog is written by Janie Medley of Janie Medley Flora Design and is filled with lovely photos from breathtakingly beautiful weddings. It's the perfect eye candy for those of you in the early planning stages.

Olympic motivation

Anyone else notice the pictograms for the 2008 Summer Olympics? No, only me? I love the aesthetic of the newest batch of pictograms that represent the different sporting events. With each Olympics, the pictograms are updated with a fresh look and the Beijing designs are so clean, simple, and artistic.

The Olympic coverage has been a lifesaver for me during the past week. I've been working very late nights and I'm so glad that I had all these world-class athletes keeping me company in the wee hours. And talk about motivation! If Michael Phelps can go for gold EIGHT times, surely I can endure one more hour of scoring and folding place cards? :)

*sparkle*

It's like Christmas morning minus the tree, or the stockings, or the good food. It's almost as exciting as getting a check in the mail, but ten times as good as getting a bill. It ranks just behind receiving an unexpected, out-of-the-blue, handwritten note from an old friend.

I'm talking about SWAROVSKI CRYSTAL DAY! (insert fanfare here)

Since there's nothing glamorous about my job as a stationer, having my lovely Swarovski crystals arrive at my doorstep really IS a big deal. Oh, it's not as sad as it sounds...just look at the pretty packaging that my goodies arrive in:


A pretty metallic pouch with silver foil print..."technological turns lyrical" - how perfect is that? And when I start unfolding the flaps, I see this peeking out at me:


Awww....

And then, of course, the real prize...it's almost blinding:

Who wouldn't love Swarovski Crystal Day?

Happy birthday...

Dear Birthday Boy,
Wish I could play hooky from work today and whisk you off to some far off destination to celebrate in style. We'd kick off the day with a heaping plate of crêpes in Paris, head to Pamplona for the Running of the Bulls (this took place in July, but you could still run down the street while I chase you), then jet off to Dublin for an ice cold pint. You deserve a day like that.

And because I know you so well, you deserve a fantastically silly UNbirthday song to commemorate your special day.



Have a wonderful day! xoxo...

8.8.8

Ahhh, it's finally here. The much anticipated 8/8/08 date was welcomed with a brief round of morning showers on the Windward side of O'ahu - a Hawaiian blessing. I'm thinking of all the weddings taking place today and want to give a special shout out to all the couples I had the pleasure of working with in preparation for this most auspicious day.

As all my wedding industry friends are scurrying about town, tackling hundreds of weddings with style and grace, I'm holed up in my studio frantically trying to finish the mountain of projects before me.

Hope everyone enjoys a fantastic 8/8/08!

Smaller than a breadbox

I love this little suitcase from Paper Source and want to make a little space for it on my shelf. I'd fill it with pretty notecards and matching envelopes...or maybe it would be the perfect place to hold my scraps of ribbon...or perhaps I could store my unpaid bills in it to make bill-paying more enjoyable.

Too bad I still don't have room for ANYTHING else in my studio and my spring cleaning is on hold indefinitely. But, maybe you could buy it and I could live vicariously through you? Brides could fill it with little goodies and it would be the most perfect way to present a gift to your bridesmaids! There's nothing better than non-traditional, functional, and reusable packaging options.

Hut one, hut two...

Wedding coordinators are a hearty breed. They must be organized, creative, personable, and cool under pressure. They're basically superheroes with bluetooth headsets and boundless amounts of energy.

In my job, I have the pleasure with working with some of the islands' top wedding coordinators. During chaotic weeks such as this (we're leading up to the BIG 8/8/08 wedding date), I'm reminded once again of the huge amount of responsibility that's shouldered by coordinators. They're the star quarterback and head coach rolled into one, the merrymaker and cheerleader, the wise prophet and guidance counselor, and the all-important cog in your great big wedding wheel.

Love, honor and respect your coordinator and they'll be one of the best parts of your wedding planning.

The UNpancake

Well, I survived the weekend sans bread, rice or pasta. But I think it's only because my husband and I discovered the delightfulness of flaxseed meal pancakes.

The photo above shows our first pancake ready to be flipped in the pan. Admittedly, I was skeptical. It looked too...healthy. And un-pancakey. But once it was cooked through, we slid it onto the plate, spread just a teeny bit of I Can't Believe It's Not Butter on it, and tried a bite.

Not bad!

It had a certain heartiness to it that you don't find in a plain buttermilk pancake, and it satisfied my craving for something bready. This is definitely one breakfast food that might be a keeper!

Bye-bye carbs

Another long weekend ahead without my favorite carbs. Oh joy.

Perhaps it won't be so bad?

Perhaps I can walk past half the aisles in the grocery store without blinking an eye?

Perhaps I can just sleep for 48 hours straight and fast-forward to my high-protein breakfast on Monday morning?

Seems that I picked the worst possible time to change my diet. This week, I was hit with a Godzilla-sized project with almost zero lead time...and I'm desperately missing my afternoon sugar rush. Must...not...give...up.

And, on that happy note, have a lovely weekend (all you carb-eaters)!